Medtronic Subsidiary Launches New ECG Device

Physio-Control Inc., a wholly‐owned subsidiary of Medtronic Inc., has launched the ReadyLink12-Lead ECG (electrocardiogram) device. The product received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance, and is designed to improve care for heart attack patients and expand regional STEMI (ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction) systems. ReadyLink expands a regional STEMI system’s reach by enabling basic life support providers to rapidly identify STEMI patients with the assistance of trained clinicians, starting the treatment clock earlier and reducing overall time to treatment.

“The ReadyLink 12-Lead ECG is designed to expand the reach of regional chest pain management networks,” said Brian Webster, president of Physio-Control. “It was designed specifically for the needs of BLS (basic life support) teams responding to a chest pain call, providing them with real-time decision support and cutting time-to-treatment by directing them to the appropriate care facility, making more successful patient outcomes possible.”

ReadyLink enables BLS emergency medical service providers to acquire and transmit a patient’s 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) to hospitals using the LifeNet System, a cloud-based data network for remote physician interpretation and decision support. This allows earlier insight into a chest pain patient’s condition and helps enable the most efficient routing for patient treatment.

The device also features a full keyboard, backlit screen, external AC/DC converter with rechargeable lithium ion battery, built-in modem and internal storage for up to 60 ECGs. All ECG leads are visible on screen, according to the company.

“ReadyLink focuses on one activity and clinical patient condition versus the multiple clinical capabilities of an ALS monitor,” said Randy Merry, vice president of product realization at Physio-Control. “With ReadyLink, our customers do not need to know how to interpret a heart rhythm, the only training required is how to place electrodes on a patient’s chest and transmit the 12-lead ECG.”

Medtronic is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn. Physio-Control is located in Redmond, Wash.